Dennis Gillan
Dennis Gillan Speaker Biography
Dennis Gillan is an ordinary guy with an extraordinary story of loss, perseverance, and healing. Dennis helps tear down the walls of silence which have surrounded the issues of mental health, depression, and suicide. He infuses his passion and humor into a tough subject which touches everyone in the audience.
Dennis Gillan is a national thought leader on the topic of Suicide Prevention and Mental Health Advocacy. He travels internationally speaking, raising awareness, and opening up the conversation of mental health. Dennis has been deeply touched by suicide after the losses of two of his brothers to suicide 11 years apart. After years of sitting on the sidelines, he jumped into helping those in need by working on the suicide prevention hotline when he lived in Chicago. After moving to South Carolina, Dennis got involved with several non-profits that take on mental health issues and this allows him to lobby lawmakers and raise awareness by sharing his story.
Dennis has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from West Virginia University and a work history rich in influence and persuasion.
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Speech Topics
3 – 2 – 1 Powerful Story
In this talk, Dennis takes your audience on a rollercoaster ride of emotions as he explains how he recovered from the suicide deaths of both of his brothers. Following the latest guidelines on speaking about suicide and suicide prevention, Dennis will discuss the warning signs of mental distress, the benefits of therapy, and how he found peace in sobriety.
Dennis has a unique presentation style and will use humor to help this message land. In the end, the message is real and relatable for all who attend.
Breakout Session
Question, Persuade, Refer
Dennis is certified to provide this training from the QPR Institute. The QPR mission is to reduce suicidal behaviors and save lives by providing innovative, practical and proven suicide prevention training. The signs of crisis are all around us. We believe that quality education empowers all people, regardless of their background, to make a positive difference in the life of someone they know. Just like CPR, QPR is an emergency response to someone in crisis and can save lives. QPR is the most widely taught Gatekeeper training in the world.
Breakout Session
Come To Me
This is a new workshop where the participants consider both sides of the mental illness equation—-those who have the condition, and those around them. In this session, Dennis sets up practical sessions where coming out is practiced and the proper response is rehearsed. Both sides will walk away with the understanding that there is no stigma necessary when it comes to mental health.
